Chicken Thighs, Brussel Sprouts and Quinoa!

This has become a favorite meal in our house.  It's quick, easy and ridiculously flavorful.  In a heated cast iron skillet, sear seasoned chicken thighs, skin side down, for three minutes.  

Turn over and add halved brussel sprouts and one cup of chicken broth.  Add to 400 degree oven for 18 minutes.  

While cooking, cook 1 cup of quinoa with 2 cups of chicken broth.  Add quinoa to a serving dish.  Remove chicken thighs from skillet (careful...skillet is hot...) and mix broth and brussel sprouts into quinoa in dish.  Top with chicken thighs.

(Note...I usually quarter a lemon and put in with chicken to cook but was out this time so I just added lemon juice to dish when it was ready to serve.)

This has become one of our favorite, healthy and quick meals.  

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays 2015!!!!!!!!!!

Once again, I'm in love with my life.  Thank you God for all of your blessings.  And we already know that 2016 is going to be even better!  

We have hit our stride down South and recognize just how blessed we are.  We lost our sweet, sweet boy, Jaru, this year but have been blessed with two of the most wonderful French Bulldogs by our loving and lovely friends, Kenny and Booth.

I'm currently on the phone with ShellyBean and she just said, "I'm so glad you're in a better place this year than you were last year." and that coincides with what Sissy said to me this week when she teared up "I'm so glad I have my happy friend back!  I missed you!"

All that said, I hope you're having the loveliest of holiday seasons too.  I hope all of your good wishes come true and I hope you recognize your blessings and ALL your favors.  

I love you.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our home to yours.  Be a great American.  Be loving family, framily and friend.  Just be fucking AWESOME!

Love,

Monnie, Robby, Marie Laveau & Zulu

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New #AnnieSloanChalkPaint Project!!!!!!! Empire Chest!

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I have a wish list of things I've always wanted.  On this list?  Rolltop desk, highboy, dining table which seats 12+ and...DRUMROLL PLEASE!!!!!  An Empire Chest!

Give me a minute while I hit a cabbage patch move right quick!  GO ME!  IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

I found an Empire Chest and I couldn't be more ecstatic.  It is in pristine condition.  Early 1900's. HEAVY.AS.HELL!!!!!  Clearly on days when my favorite consignment store lady calls...I need to rent a man and a Uhaul cuz I couldn't even move that sucker 3 inches.  IT.IS.SOLID!  It is so perfect I don't have to do a thing to it but well...there is this color that I adore and this piece is SCREAMING for it.  The color you ask?  ENGLISH YELLOW.  With a shiny black top (I think.  Might just keep the top as is but I just think black would be sooooooooo sleek.).

I know you can't "see" it but it's gonna be gorg.  I just know it.  You're going to have to trust me here.  LOL!  Oh...and I'm going to have a piece of beveled glass cut to put on the top because I'm thinking it will house a "bar" in my upcoming Monnie Retreat.  LOL!  Okay...okay...so it's a living/sitting room.  No television.  No electronics.  It will be for reading and relaxing.  It will be shiny and gorgeous with a white sofa and FABULOUS window treatments. with super fluffy blankies and lots o' lots of BOOKS!  Yup.  There will be a covered box at the entrance for your cellphone.  NO ELECTRONICS!  It will be a thing of beauty.  (In my mind so far mind you!  LOL!

Okay...so...the way my ADHD is set up, Robby will only let me get one piece at a time so that I don't have a lot of projects stacked up because I've gotten bored.  Cuz we all know that can happen.  In the words of one of the besties:

"Is there ANYTHING you can't do?????"

Answer?  Yes...stick with anything for a lifetime.  Hey...I get bored.

HAPPY WEEKEND!  How is your weekend stacking up?  What's the temp out by you?  It was almost 80 degrees here today.  Throwed the hell off.

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China Cabinet Upcycle - COMPLETE - #AnnieSloanChalkPaint

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To start...I had to take off that old school gold leaf stuff.  I added about 20 drops of tea tree oil to some hot water, saturated a washcloth with it and then rubbed it all over the gold stuff squeezing as I went so there was water left sitting on top.  Then...I let it sit for about five minutes and, using the blade from a utility knife...scraped it off.  Easy.  SUPER easy.

Next, I painted the interior with two coats of Country Grey (followed by clear wax) and the exterior with two coats of Coco.  Since I was looking to coordinate with a painted chest we already have...I was trying to get a certain color so I followed the exterior with dark wax.

I plan on stenciling the interior back but probably not before Christmas.  I put some stuff in it to take a picture because I didn't want to pull out my china.  Then...I was like...well...I like my china where I keep my china (in the painted cabinet) and I feel like it's safer in there.  Now...safer from what I don't know.  This is how my brain works.  I have issues and I'm not working on them.

Still.

Before.  During. After.  

I like it.  It makes me happy.

And truly...that's all I want in life.  To do whatever makes me happy.

GO ME!

Sooooooooooo...have you decided to try a piece yet?  I'm thinking of painting our family room coffee table.  You know...since a little super cute puppy yall know teethed on it when we first got her.  LOL!